NEW RELEASES: GREGORY TARDY – WITH SONGS OF JOY; HENRY FRANKLIN – TWO VIEWS; MARTY GROSZ & THE FAT BABIES – DIGA DIGA DOO

GREGORY TARDY – WITH SONGS OF JOY

Tenorist Gregory Tardy comes on here with a surprising degree of complexity – a range of expressions on his instrument that run from straightforward, to sharply angular, to dark-toned and sonorous – all in the space of a single session! The sense of individual spirit is stronger than ever with Tardy – as he reaches into so many different areas with his well-developed approach to the music – especially sharp on his own compositions, which make up a good amount of the album here. The group also features well-matched trumpet from Philip Dizack, who seems to shift his mood to match Tardy's – and the rest of the quintet includes John Chin on piano, Sean Conly on bass, and Jaimeo Brown on drums. Titles include "The Law Of Biogenesis", "Lil Patient One", "Ancient Of Days", "Song For Joshua", "The Myth Of Privacy", "The Narrow Door", and "Precious Abby". ~ Dusty Groove

HENRY FRANKLIN – TWO VIEWS

Bassist Henry Franklin is still very much at the top of his game here – grabbing our attention right away, as he has with his other excellent recent releases on his own label – playing with this strong, soulful quality that really steps off from his better-known work of the 70s! The album features reedman Benn Clatworthy throughout – on either tenor or flute – and the "two views" in the title comes from the use of either pianist Cecila Coleman or Kirk Lightsey, who each provide a slightly different flavor on the tracks on which they appear! Drummer Carl Burnett's in the group – but the tracks with Coleman don't have any drums at all – which makes for this special sort of interplay between her piano and Franklin's bass – and the album also features a bit of guitar from Calvin Keys, plus some percussion as well. Titles include some interesting originals by Clatworthy – "Kandahar" and "Blues For Drayce" – and other titles include versions of Joe Henderson's "Punjab", Lightsey's "Heaven's Dance", Frank Strozier's "Frank's Tune", and Clare Fischer's "Pensativa" – which is always one of our favorites. ~ Dusty Groove

MARTY GROSZ & THE FAT BABIES – DIGA DIGA DOO

A trad jazz legend joins the younger Fat Babies combo – in a set that really illustrates the renewed commitment to old school styles at Delmark Records! Guitarist Marty Grosz last recorded for Delmark in 1959, as a sideman for Albert Nicholas – but his strength hasn't dimmed a bit over the years, as his tightly rhythmic playing makes for a great complement to the Fat Babies' sound! Marty gets plenty of room to solo, and impact the rhythm section too – and the album's overflowing with tight, short numbers that include "My Daddy Rocks Me", "Hold Me", "Diga Diga Doo", "A Jazz Holiday", "Blue", and "Why Couldn't It Be Poor Little Me". ~ Dusty Groove